Fire alarm



Jan. 5, 1960 M. HILL 2,920,167

FIREALARM Filed Feb. 25. '1958 IN VEN TOR.

ATTD RN EYE FIRE ALARM Milburn Hill, East Orange, NJ. fappucauon February z5, 195s, serial No. 117,381

` 1` claim. (c1. 20o-142) y'This invention relates to a tire alarm, and more par- 1tlieularly to a lire alarm for use in a building such as a ome.

The object of the invention is to provide a lire alarm which will. automatically warn a person in a building such as a home, whenever ktire breaks out in a remote location such as a basement or attic.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire alarm system for a building such as a home, wheren the'itire alarm system is constructed so that aswitch mechanism isarranged in the basement, and wherein there is provided a similar switch mechanism in the attic, so-that in the event thata lire occurs in either the basement or attic, a person in a different location such as abedroom-will be automatically warned of the presence of the=ti`re, and wherein different signals such as a bell and buzzer a-re provided for indicating the presence of a tire in the attic or basement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tire alarm system which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course ofthe following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a sectional view taken through a building such as a home, and showing the tire alarm system of the present invention arranged therein.

Figure 2 is a view illustrating schematically the wiring diagram for the present invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates a portion of a building such as a home, and the building 10 includes an attic 11 and a basement 12, and the basement l2 may have a conventional furnace 13 arranged therein. The building 10 is provided with bedrooms such as the bedrooms 14, and a bed 15 may be arranged in the bedroom 14. A doorway 16 may be provided for the bedroom 14, and the numeral 17 indicates a signal device which is arranged contiguous to the bedroom 14 so that in the event of a tire in the attic 11 or in the basement 12, a person sleeping in the bed 15 will be awakened by the signal device 17 which is arranged contiguous thereto.

According to the present invention, a switch mechanism 18 is positioned in the attic 11, and a similar switch mechanism 18 is arranged in the basement 12. It is to be noted that each of the switch mechanisms 18 includes a support member which is indicated generally by the numeral 19, and each support member 19 includes a tirst portion 20 which has a pair of right angularly arranged second portions 21 extending therefrom, and the second portions 21 terminate in right angularly arranged third portions 22. The portions 22 are adapted to be secured to a supporting structure such as a wall 24 by suitable securing elements such as securing elements 23.

Each swtich mechanism 18 further includes an arm 25 which has an end secured to the portion 20 by securing elements 26, and secured to the outer end of each arm 25 is an insulated block 27. A contact 28 of metal or the like extends outwardly from each block 27, and connected to each contact 28 is a terminal 29 which has a conductor 30 electrically connected thereto.

There is further provided a bar 31 which is pivotally connected to the portion 20 of the support member 19, and the bar 31 is pivotally supported by means of a pivot pin 32. The outer end of the bar 31 is provided with a pointed linger 33 which is mounted for movement into and out of electrical engagement with the contact 28 so that a circuit can be completed to the signal device 17 when a lire occurs. A weight 34 is arranged above the linger 33 and is secured to the bar 31, and the numeral 35 indicates a cord or line which is connected to the weight 34. The line 35 is made of` a combustible or ignitible material so that when a lire occurs the line or cord 35 will melt or become ignited so as to permit the weight 34 to move the bar 31 downwardly whereby the finger 33 will engage the contact 28 so as to complete an electric circuit to the signal device 17 whereby a person such as a person in the bedroom 14 will be automatically warned of a tire in the attic or basement. The numeral 36 indicates a conductor whichy is electrically connected to the bar 3l.

The signal device 17 is shown to comprise a bell 37 and a buzzer 38,' and the bell 37 may be actuated when4 a lire occurs in the attic, and the buzzer 3S may be actuated when a tire occurs in the basement.

The electrical circuit for the re alarm of the present invention further includes a transformer 39, and power input lines 40, Figure 2.

The lines 35 may be arranged in engagement with eyelets 41 which are suitably spaced around the attic or basement, and the lines 35 are adapted to be strung around the basement or attic in a suitable manner.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a tire alarm system which is especially suitable for use in a building such as the home 10. In use, one of the switches 18 is adapted to be arranged in the attic 11, and a similar switch 18 is adapted to be arranged in the basement 12. The signal mechanism 17 is adapted to be positioned contiguous to a room such as the bedroom 14, and it will be seen that the signal system 17 includes the bell 37 and buzzer 38. Then, in the event that a tire occurs in the attic 11, the line or cord 35 in the attic will be ignited and this will permit the weight 34 to pivot the bar 31 downwardly so that the finger 33 will engage the contact 28 and thereby complete the electrical circuit through the wires 30 and 36 to the bell 37. Thus, the bell 37 will be sounded so that the person in bed such as the bed 15 will be awakened and the person will thereby be warned of the lire in the attic.

Similarly, in the event of a lire in the basement 12, the cord or line 35 which is strung around the basement, will become ignited, and the cord in the basement after it becomes ignited will permit the weight 34 to move the bar 31 downwardly about the pivot pin 32 so that the finger 33 can engage the contact 28 and this will similarly complete the electric circuit to the buzzer 38 through the conductors 30 and 36 so that the person in bed will know that there is a tire in the basement. Thus it will be seen that a person in a remote location such as a bedroom will be automatically warned or advised of the presence of a lire in any one of a number of different locations such as basements, attics or the like.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described for use in a basement or attic, it is to be understood that the switches can be arranged in different parts of the building, and also the signal device 17 may be arranged in different locations as desired.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The blocks 27 may be made of insulated material, and the contacts 28 may be made of metal. Both switches 18 are of similar construction. The lines 35 are adapted to be threaded through or extended'through suitable eyelets `41 so that the cord or line will be retained in its proper extended position throughoutthe attic kor basement. It is to be notedthat when a fire occurs, the lines will burn so as to permit the switches to become actuated. The warning device '17 maybe located over a bedroom door, or it may be arranged in a hallway adjacent to the bedroom. Both switches are adapted to operate from the same transformer. VBy having the parts arranged as shown in -the drawings, a person can immediately ascertain whether the fire is in the attic or basement since in one instance the bell will be rung, while in another instance the buzzer will be sounded.

If there is a third or fourth room in the home or building that is remote and wherein it is desired to protect such a room, a third or fourth-switch may be installed in such a room.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the ield of inventionfclaimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

In a building including a basement, an attic, and a bedroom, a re alarm mechanism comprisinga switch mechanism arranged in the attic, and a switch mechanism arranged in the basement, each of said switch mechanisms comprising a support member including ,a tirst portion, a pair of second portions extending at right angles from the rst portion, said second portions terminating in right angularly arranged third portions which are secured to a supporting structure, an arm extending from said first portion at right angles thereto and secured thereto at one end thereof, an insulated block mounted on the free end of said arm, a contact extending outwardly from said block forwardy of the free end thereof, a terminal depending from said Contact at right angles thereto, a conductor connected to said terminal, a bar pivotally connected to said first portion and extending laterally thereof, a conductor connected to said bar, a pointed finger formed integral with the outer end of said bar and extending at right angles from said bar for movement into and out of engagement with said contact, a weight secured to the longitudinal edge of said bar above and in alinement withsaid finger, a combus-v tible line connected to said weight, and a conductor connected to, said bar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 510,115 Cantrell Dec. 5, 1893 685,745 Crisman Nov. 5, 1901 876,512 Abrahamson Jan. 14, 1908 981,020 Smenner Jan. 10, 1911 1,322,336 Peterson Nov. 18, 1919 2,018,499 Lindsey Oct. 22, 1935 2,470,711 Moberg May 17, 1949y 

